While cars see upgrades, most models never lose desirability. In fact, many old car models are still used this day in age. However, prices can vary a lot. In some cases, cars depreciate, then appreciate, and in other cases, they might appreciate right off the bat. Sometimes, these cars are auctioned out to the highest bidder.
When cars sell for six figures at auction, everyone's eyes are opened. When the bid approaches seven figures, people's mouths drop open.
But what about eight figures? Well, the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic is one of just a few automobiles worldwide to acquire such a high value.
Bugatti
Bugatti was a high-performance car manufacturer created in 1909 by the Italian-born industrial designer Ettore Bugatti in the then-German city of Molsheim, Alsace. The cars were recognized for their stunning design and several race victories.
Bugatti's automobiles include the Veyron, a premium hyper sports car that has broken multiple speed records and redefined what excellent automotive engineering can achieve. There's also the Veyron Jean Pure Wimille, Jean Bugatti, Meo Constantine, Rembrandt Bugatti, and Black Bess, which is one of the earliest street-legal supercars and was formerly the world's fastest road automobile.
The Type 35 Grand Prix cars, the Type 41 "Royale," the Type 57 "Atlantic," and the Type 55s are all well-known Bugattis. In 1987, an Italian entrepreneur purchased the company and resurrected it as a Modena-based manufacturer of limited-production, high-end sports cars. In 1998, the Volkswagen Group purchased the Bugatti brand and established a subsidiary in Molsheim, Alsace.
It is well known that Bugatti takes personalization to new heights. That's because Bugatti gives buyers a dizzying array of color waves to pick from. After all, unlike a factory-built car, each Bugatti is meticulously handcrafted. The firm takes pride in producing automobiles that are not only gorgeous but also among the fastest in the world.
Bugatti Atlantic
In Bugatti's long history, the Atlantic is one of the icons. The coupé was and continues to be, a one-of-a-kind vehicle in terms of elegance, luxury, and performance. The Type 57 SC Atlantic is one of the most sought-after, influential, and collectible vintage vehicles available. Only four were built between 1936 and 1938, and only three are known to survive today, with many people seeking the elusive last one (which the automaker thinks might be worth $114 million) as if it were the Holy Grail.
Only three of the four Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantics manufactured by Bugatti are still making wonderful music today. The three extant 57SC Atlantics — chassis No. 57374, 57473, and 57591 – were built between 1936 and 1938 and are considered some of the most costly automobiles in the world. The fourth, No. 57453, would have been fine if it hadn't gone lost after the death of its original owner.
With regards to the name of the Bugatti Atlantic Type 57 SC, the "S" stood for "Surbaissé" ("Lowered") and the "C" for "Compresseur" (a supercharger introduced by Bugatti as a result of customers' desire for increased power).
It included a V-shaped dip at the bottom of the radiator and mesh grilles on either side of the engine compartment. The Type 57s had a 3,257 cc twin-cam engine that was based on the Type 49 but substantially modified by Jean Bugatti.
To provide greater operating silence, the Type 57 featured a spur gear train at the rear of the engine, together with fiber gear wheels on the camshafts. It featured a 1,349 mm (53 in) wide track and a 3,302 mm (130 in) wheelbase.
The road-going models weighed around 2,090 lbs. A smaller version of the royale's square-bottom horseshoe grille was included on the first road-going Type 57. Shutters regulated by a thermostat were installed on the sidewalls of the engine compartment.
Its body is made up of aluminum over ash wood, and tires were made with Dunlop to show you how rich the car is. The Bugatti Atlantic has a top speed of 124.3 MPH with the front and rear track for 1349mm/53.2in.
Price Of The Bugatti Atlantic
The Type 57 Atlantic Coupe, for example, is one of the world's rarest and most valuable automobiles. Only four were built, and only three are known to exist today, making chassis 57453 a possible "barn discovery" with a value of up to $114 million, according to Bugatti.
For the chassis 57374, after a series of owners (including an American doctor named Robert Oliver, who bought the car in 1945 and shipped it to the United States in 1946), the vehicle was auctioned off in 1971 for a staggering $59,000, making it the world's most expensive automobile at the time.
Peter Mullin and Rob Walton own it, and it is frequently on exhibit at the Mullin Museum in Oxnard, California. The other car known as chassis 57432 was involved in an accident; it was later restyled and reshaped, and sold to its current owner in 2006. The car was displayed at Pebble Beach in 2010 and is now in a private Spanish collection.
The Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic became the most expensive car in the world when it was sold for above $30 million at an auction in California in 2010. And this is because, aside from its extraordinary rarity, the Bugatti 57SC Atlantic is notable for its technological advancements that were far ahead of its time. The low-slung body, for example, was designed by the founder's son Jean Bugatti and made of aluminum.
It embraces every concept that automotive enthusiasts value. It's lovely, operates well, is well-built, and is also pretty unusual. As of July 2021, the last remaining model appears to be lost and is considered the most important piece of Bugatti's cherished history. The elusive fourth Atlantic model, if discovered today, could potentially cost upwards of $113 million at auction.
Final Thoughts
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Bugatti looks to be planning a broad reintroduction of the vehicle. Bugatti is still keeping its cards close to its chest, but the carmaker does appear to be hinting at a new Type 57SC Atlantic on the way. Judging from the cars created in times past, it must be said that this New Atlantic would be mind-blowing and should definitely be watched out for.